The instructor of SoulCycle’s stars, who justified receiving a coronavirus vaccine, characterizing herself as an “educator”, apologized for the change in an Instagram post on Monday.
Stacey Griffith, 52, offered the social media mea culpa after receiving criticism from Instagram users – as well as from Mayor Bill de Blasio.
“I want to apologize wholeheartedly for my recent action on receiving the vaccine,” wrote Griffith in the post. “I made a terrible error of judgment and that’s why I’m really sorry.”
On Friday, Griffith – who counts between her devotees Madonna and Kelly Ripa – received the highly sought vaccine at Port Richmond High School on the North Shore of Staten Island, despite apparently not meeting any current standards for inoculation eligibility under the regulations. of the state of New York.
She exulted about receiving the photo in a deleted Instagram post, immediately attracting the ire of users who were not so lucky.
Pressed by The Daily Beast, Griffith said she qualified for the vaccine because she is an “educator” – teachers are among those currently eligible in New York – and argued that, by taking the injection, she was using her fame to help define a positive result example.
Griffith had his chance despite the widespread scarcity that caused New York to postpone appointments and filling locations as supplies ran out.
In a statement released Monday morning, SoulCycle distanced itself from Griffith’s actions.
“Stacey Griffith operated on a personal basis when applying for a NY state COVID-19 vaccine,” said a SoulCycle spokesman. “SoulCycle plays no role in organizing or obtaining vaccines for instructors or other employees, nor do we encourage any of our SoulCycle employees to pursue vaccine priority as educators.”
Griffith did not respond to requests for additional comments from The Post.